Night feeds at nine months

[melbob]

My ds is 9 months and still has a feed almost every night. he is eating well and has 3-4 7oz bottles in the day. A friend thinks he's is waking for cuddle but I am not convinced as he he wakes up feeds and goes straight back to sleep. I could so so do with him sleeping through. part of me thinks he obviously needs it as he is a very very active baby, nearly walking. He is also on 50th centile for w and 70th for h so not overeating. Any mn advice gratefully received

[hermykne]

i dont think he needs melbob, my ds, breastfed, at 9mths had stopeed night feeds.
is he on 3 meals a day plus snacks?

[elibelly]

Every child is different, my ds needed milk in the night on and off until he was nearly one, it used to go in fits and starts - he'd have phases of wanting milk in the night for a week or so then stop for a while. He was very big and ate loads in the day (98th centile height and weight) and was very active. You could try giving him a bigger bottle before bed, my ds was having about 10oz for his bedtime bottle which helped.

[melbob]

He has eaten loads today will ry with bigger feed

and see how things go tonight

[TracyK]

what about a dream feed. I think I still gave mine one till almost a year. But it kept him asleep till morning. He usually only had about 3 or 4 ozs -though i would sometimes leave the rest of the bottle in his cot so that if he woke too early - he'd help himself and either go back to sleep or at least chat to himself for 30 mins or so.

[Gobbledigook]

My ds3 is 8 months and has not had any night time feeds (i.e. nothing past his 7pm bottle) for a good couple of months now but that's just him. Maybe your ds still needs it.

I know it must be really annoying getting up with him in the night but if a quick bottle settles him to sleep, I'd just keep doing it.

In fact this past week, 2 nights ds3 woke at about 2am and we just fed him and he went straight back down.

[hewlettsdaughter]

I carried on night feeds until my dd was one (she's 13 months now). I decided to stop them - I thought she might fight it but she hasn't. To be honest, I think I was just in the habit of offering her a feed when she woke - and she was in the habit of taking it. She usually goes to back to sleep with a pat on the back or whatever now. Have you tried not offering a feed? Maybe your ds' reaction will tell you whether he still needs it or not!

[melbob]

Thanks for advice everyone he is now teething again so guess will just have to see how things go until thats finished!

tracyK whats a dream feed?

[TracyK]

its when you feed the baby around 10.30 - 11 pm - well just before you go to bed for the night really. You don't wake them - just let them feed whilst asleep iykwim. Myds used to take 3 or 4 oz and not wake at all, soon as the teat touched his lips - he'd sook it in!

[TracyK]

it means that you top them up at your timings and should keep them going longer in the morning.

[melbob]

Tried that last night and he woke up half and hour later and puked everywhere!!

[TracyK]

oops!

[melbob]

It worked last night so fingers crossed

[TracyK]

the dream feed worked??

[melbob]

last night too so fingers crossed

[TracyK]

Prob work till a tooth is moving - then it all goes pearshaped again!